History of Kowa

1894

Cotton wholesaler "Hattori Kanesaburo Store" was established.-the beginnings

KOWA Group started as private store "Hattori Kanesaburo wholesale store" under the name of Hattori Kanesaburo in 1894. Initiallly they handled CHITA cotton cloth and tie-dyeing of NARUMI and ARIMATSU area

1912

Opened Hattori sizing factory (first production factory)

Hattori Shoten Co., Ltd.'s first production factory was the Hattori Sizing Factory, which began operations in Katsumachi, Naka-ku, Nagoya (now, 2-chome, Matsubara, Naka-ku), and had approximately 50 employees and three sizing machines.

1914

Opened Sakurada Factory (Began textile manufaturing)

Gluing machine of the Hattori Sizing Factory was moved to Sakurada factory and a new loom was introduced. Sakurada factory became the first woven cloth factory of Hattori Shoten Co., Ltd.The initial equipment was four gluing machines and 308 looms.

1917

Opened Atsuta factory

The Atsuta Factory was planned as Hattori Shoten's first spinning factory, and was located at Atsutahigashi-cho, Minami-ku, Nagoya. Initially, the operation started with 72 looms.

1919

Began the spinning at Atsuta Plant

Atsuta factory started operations by purchasing spinning machine with 4,000 spindles, and became the main factory of weaving and spinning mills thereafter.

1921

Established Nankai Dyeing Co., Ltd.(Began the dyeing business)

1938

Opened Wakayama Factory(Began the sewing industry)

30 sewing machines was installed at one corner of the Wakayama branch office and started the sewing business. This is our first sewing factory. This completed an integrated production system from spinning and woven fabrics to dyeing and sewing.

Established China Qingdao branch office

1945

Overseas branch and offices were all closed caused by lost war. Changed the company name to Kowaboseki Co., Ltd.

Overseas branches and offices were all closed at once caused by lost war, and the only remaining business was domestic distribution agency and uncontrolled miscellaneous goods handling.The company name changed was based on the sincere expectation and determination that entrusted Japan's peace and corporate prosperity to the name of "Kowa," which means promotes peace.

1955

Established KOWA AMERICAN CORPORATION

1957

Installed 22,800 more Spindles for filament fiber at Kochino factory

The Kochino factoy had peak facilities with total 280,000 spindles for cotton, woolen, synthetic fiber, and worsted.

1976

Closed Wakayama factory

In the prolonged textile business recession, the Wakayama factory was closed after reviewing that the facilities in the factory were old and there were other ways to make effective use of the facilities in the city.

1986

Established KOWA EUROPE GmbH

1996

Closed spinning division at Matsusaka factory

Kowa Spinning Co., Ltd made a decision to suspend Matsusaka Factory, which has been running for about 80 years since 1919, and finished spinning business.

2003

Acquired internationally certification "SKUL" for Organic Cotton

※ The above image is different from the one as of 2003.

Organic Cotton Product Brand “TENERITA”

Tenerita is Organic brand under the concept "To remove as much of the burden on people and the environment as possible", and offering high quality products which can prove best origin and distribution by establishing total supply chain from cotton field to final garment.

2008

Received the first approval in Japan from "Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)"

GOTS is global standard that defines the handling of all processes from production to manufacturing and sales of organic products. Kowa is the first approved company in Japan.

2010

Established INCONTRO COMPANY, LTD

Incontro is doing distribution, licence, retail operations of world brands in Japanese market. Handling brand Vivienne Westwood (50 own retail stores in Japan) -Wholesale SIMON MILLER, REINHARD PLANK "

2014

Launched PIC (Peace India cotton) project (started organic cotton growing in our own field of India.)

ACE, an NGO that protects the world's children from child labor.They started new activity to shift main industry "cotton cultivation" to organic in the village in Telangana, india where support activities and eliminated child labor were achieved from January 2010 to March 2014

2018

Launched The Cotton Makers Studio PROJECT

The Cotton Makers Studio PROJECT greatest feature is the development of original materials that combine the high quality natural fiber which Kowa is always focus on and chemical fibers that evolve with the times.The pursuit of functions such as affinity with skin, elasticity and comfort, and the pursuit of creative textures that drive the imagination of designers. Aiming for a lineup that makes users truly feel "worthy"

promotion

Kowa Company, Ltd is the company that creates the FUTURE based on the present.

We started as a cotton supplier, we insisted Japan made manufacturing during over 120 years. Our history of fabric creating is the journey to continue pursuing the possibilities of natural fiber fabric including cotton. It’s journey of manufacturing that Solidly, sincerely, we repeat quality improvement and step forward with Japanese artisans.

Spin the cotton, twist the yarn, weave with warp and weft and make one piece of fabric. This serious made fabric in Japan is delivered to the world. At the same time, we respect the tradition and focus on delivering "The story" real "Value" and "Joy" of its fabric as well as continue to improve the fabric.

It is never that our business has been smooth sailing for over 120 years. After world warⅡ, we could not help but closing some businesses. However at the changing time of the age we look into the old measure and considered as a chance of creating new value, we adapt to the new age. Even so, our spirit – we create by ourselves – never changes.

This is true that fabric is not everything for the garment. But it is no doubt fabric is the very important piece to increase the value of garments. We deliver fabrics made by human ties from craft man to customers as fabric is made weaving warp yarn and weft yarn. This is our job.

We have crossed borders and have been working for the manufacturing for the earth and happiness for the world.

Natural fiber is the benefit which the nature gives to Man-kind. That’s why we circulate the benefit from the earth and offering the environment in which we could keep the sustainable manufacturing. To the world keeping the smile forever by the benefit from the Earth.

We – Kowa company – respect the serious manufacturing and keep being the company who creates the new value to the world.